Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Pizza Conspiracy? Slice, Theo's Both Expanding in August

Two of the city's better pizza joints are expanding and plan to open new restaurants in Uptown and Mid-City later this summer.

Slice Pizzeria plans to open its second shop at 5538 Magazine St., in a building near Whole Foods Market that had previously been a franchise of the local Italian Pie chain. Warren Chapoton, co-owner of both Slice and Juan's Flying Burrito, says he hopes to open this second Slice in late August.

Meanwhile, Theo's Neighborhood Pizza is working on renovations for its own expansion. Jammer Orintas, co-owner of the four-year-old Uptown pizzeria, says a second shop should be open in mid- to late-August at 4024 Canal St. in Mid-City.

Owners at both Slice and Theo's say their new locations will use essentially the same menus and formats as at their original shops, though in each case they will have much more room.

Both owners also say they have been eyeing expansion sites for some time. Chapoton in fact initially intended to open a second Slice near the Mid-City location of Juan's, in the very same building where Theo's now plans to open.